Golden State Warriors vs Minnesota Timberwolves

The Golden state warriors are back at home in the playoffs as they meet the minnesota timberwolves in game 3 of the west conference semi-finals on a Sunday morning.

The first two games have been split with each side coming away with one win apiece and we expect a real nail-biter at the Chase center as they go in to the weekend looking to gain a stranglehold on the series.

Without their offensive dictator Stephen Curry because he had aggravated his hamstring in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors, who were committed to make it 2-0 up against a bittered Minnesota side who had their own revenge to exact, had to be seen to be giving off their best on Friday.

However, Steve Kerr’s men suffered an agonising lack of momentum in the opening exchanges between the two sides in the clash at the Target Center as the Timberwolves galloped 13-0 in front, having been found a decent grounding in which to build a 24-point triumph.

Without their offense leader on the floor, the Warriors wrapped up their inferior point total (15) in the first quarter of a playoff game since Game 6 in the finals last year, where they came back from just 11 points in front of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jimmy Butler scored 17 points on seven rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes from the bench for Golden States while Jonathan Kuminga returned a team best 18 points for the kettle.

Before that, Curry (22) and Buddy Hield (33) had scored 55 as they adjourned the side of Kerr 103-89 in a tense Game 7 of Western Conference first round, upping their graded slate versus Rockets to 5-0 in playoffs, before politely snatching a 99-88 win at Minnesota for Game 1 of semi-finals on May 7.

The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Warriors 117-93 to even the series at one game each. They did this by shooting 50% from the floor on Friday morning, including 16-of-37 from beyond the arc.

Four Minnesota players ended with 15 or more points, demonstrating the team's collective effort. Julius Randle, an accomplished forward, recorded his first double-double of the playoffs with 24 points and 11 assists.

While 24-year-old forward Jaden McDaniels scored 16 points on an effective 70% shooting from the field, Anthony Edwards and Nickeil Alexander-Walker each scored 20 points, with the former dishing out nine rebounds and five assists.

With three straight wins over the Los Angeles Lakers, including a 4-1 victory that sent JJ Redick's team reeling in the opening round, the Minnesota Timberwolves have now won four of their last five playoff games.

As they travel to the Chase Center, where they have won four of their previous five visits—a 114-106 setback in December being the lone defeat—Chris Finch's team will be rooting for themselves to win this series on Sunday.